Put on your tinfoil hats, I have a little "theory" re: Diebold et al

[Maven]

So someone else earlier today had posted a thread showing that with the exception of Montana and Virginia (hmm...) all of the hotly contested Senate race results closely mirrored exit polls. You know, the exit polls that have generally been accurate in pretty much every election except 2000, 2002 and 2004. So it seems that the machines involved in this election somehow didn't generate the "anomalies" that plagued them in the past, and, uh, always favored Republicans.

Why?

Have Wally O'Dell and all his pro-Bush pals at ES&S and Sequoia decided to put an end to these "anomalies" out of a sudden respect for impartiality in counting votes? Or could it be that in this election the perception that Dems were going to win big, combined with the new public awareness of e-voting problems, conviced the powers that be at these companies that giving their friends a little boost this time around would be too costly? Could it be that by letting the Dems have their legitimate victory this time, they're actually trying to "calm the storm" and save their own hides?

This is probably too farfetched--but maybe not. In any event, it only underscores for me the need to get these private companies OUT of our vote-counting process and return to transparent elections--otherwise, these "kingmakers" will continue to wreak havoc.

[CrispyQ]

1. It also underscores the need to make the media do their job.

In my office, I'm known as the political nut. Since Lou Dobbs has been reporting on election anomolies, three people have approached me & asked me if I've heard about this issue. I say of course & send them links for more information. They are all surprised. "Why haven't I heard this in the news?" they ask. "You gotta look for the news yourself, these days," I tell them.

[rainy]

2. The exit polls tell EVERYTHING and maybe they

knew we were watching them like hawks. Lots of lawsuits right now against Diebold etc... But, we must not let down our guard because of 08 when Al Gore will become our next president.

[Maven]

3. Exactly...and the documentary that just came out, and Lou Dobbs, etc.

I think they figured the risk to their government contracts was too great.

[Junkdrawer]

4. Been saying that and more for months...

Add to what you said that a bipartisan face before an Iranian invasion is necessary.

[mother earth]

5. I think it may be more difficult to control the results in midterms,

perhaps it is reserved for pres. elections. Or maybe with the neocons turning on GW via Vanity Fair, the powers that be want him ousted and let the votes go. Who knows? It does not diminish the fact that election reform is of prime importance. Transparency in gov't and the voting process is everything.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. I think that's exactly what happened.

We need to just get RID of the damn machines. NO MORE! Dems now have the power to do that. Paper and Pens!

There was NO WAY for them to steal this election. The Democrats were just too far ahead in the polls. The Tide turned and they were "SCREWN!!!!111!!!111"

[Virginia Dare]

7. It would have been virtually impossible for them...

to steal this election and get away with it, too many races involved, and many of them weren't nearly close enough.

[KT2000]

8. The Whole World was Watching

Too many people have become knowledgeable about voting problems. We have to get rid of the machines because a clean looking election will put peoples' minds at ease so when the presidential comes along - business as before.

[joeunderdog]

9. Wrapped in tin foil, I have a variation on your theme.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2647480

[Maven]

13. I believe you're right. nt

[Blackthorn]

10. Crossed my mind too.

What if they 'let' the Dems take the House?

[AtomicKitten]

11. they were being outed by the MSM

and scrutiny would follow quickly - FINALLY.

Still we must secure the vote and get it out of the hands of these partisan companies with proprietary source code.

[Mr_Spock]

12. I agree that ALL of these crappy machines should be scrapped

I think your theory is interesting, but I think the machines should be scrapped because they are a shitty design and they are hackable & don't have a paper trail.

[Cleita]

14. Not off the mark at all.

I know that because we shone a bright light on the possibility of rigged elections and particularly the evoting machines, and with well known figures like Bobby Kennedy, Jr. writing exposes about them, they couldn't change the vote without getting caught. Now we have to clean up how we do elections in the future, so that it's next to impossible to rig an election.

[everythingsxen]

15. The tinfoil scenario I had imagined was..

They rigged the machines in favor of Dems, then cry fraud, uncover the "scandal" and seize control of the Republic permanently.

[Maven]

16. Nah, why do that when you have the illusion of democracy?